Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Trip to Computer City

Guest post here from Zach.

Last week I traveled to Chengdu's Computer City to buy a computer monitor and cord for home. When I got home I realized that I should have documented the trip. So this morning I charged up the digital camera and retraced my steps.

Computer City is a giant four story building where people sell, build, and fix computers, cameras, stereos, and more. Amazingly, there are two stores across the street from each other and Chengdu has four total!

First I went to check out the previously owned electronics in the market next door.


I walked through a mall that apparently was inspired by this scene from Blues Brothers.


After much searching, I finally found the used electronic section. It had hundreds of stores competing in computer stacking and hoarding.

Where are all the customers?

Proud computer hoarder

After awhile, I decided it would be better to buy new things, so I headed over to the real Computer City next door where they sell the exact same stuff.

Despite the abundance of electronics for sale, I could not find the cord I was looking for. When I told an employee what I wanted, he disappeared for about five minutes and returned with exactly what I needed. I can only guess he built the cord himself in back.

Probably not the same guy, but a very similar looking guy helped me find the special cord I was looking for.

Can you imagine the Best Buy salesman soldering circuits for digital cameras at his desk?

The finished product at home:




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